EHRc launches new guidance to combat entrenched discrimination in Britain’s uniformed services

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRc) has introduced new measures to address longstanding harassment and inequality in Britain’s armed forces, police, and emergency services, emphasising data-driven reforms and leadership commitment.

Britain’s Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has issued new guidance aimed at tackling deeply rooted discrimination and sexual harassment within the armed forces, police, and other emergency services. The EHRC describes these issues as “entrenched” and sees their guidance as a crucial step in addressing workplace cultures that have long allowed such behaviours to persist.

The new guidance focuses on improving how these uniformed organisations collect and analyse workforce equality data. According to the EHRC, understanding this data is foundational to driving cultural change, creating safer working environments, and developing targeted policies to prevent harassment and discrimination. This approach can also help improve recruitment, retention, and the overall reputation of these vital public services. The watchdog stressed that many police and fire services currently lack a clear understanding of their staff’s diversity and equality profiles, citing a 2023 report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS). This shortfall hampers efforts to take effective action to diversify and improve these workforces.

Martyn Jones, Acting Wales Commissioner at the EHRC, emphasised that while the nature of uniformed services entails unique workplace cultures, their workforces still deserve to be safe, fair, and equal. He highlighted that “collecting and analysing good equality data is essential” for organisations to comprehensively understand workforce needs and problems, enabling them to design better interventions to combat harassment and discrimination.

This initiative comes amid recent troubling developments in the Metropolitan Police, where nine officers at Charing Cross police station were suspended following allegations of excessive use of force and making discriminatory and misogynistic remarks. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) opened the investigation after a mandatory conduct referral from the Met. Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist condemned the behaviour, calling it “disgraceful” and reaffirming the Met’s commitment to rooting out misconduct. The Charing Cross station had previously attracted criticism following a 2022 IOPC report revealing officers exchanging offensive messages about rape, domestic violence, racism, homophobia, and ableism.

The EHRC’s guidance forms part of a wider programme addressing sexual harassment and race and sex-based discrimination within uniformed services. This work aligns with the new legal obligations under the Worker Protection (Amendment of the Equality Act 2010) Act 2023, which requires employers to proactively prevent sexual harassment within their workforces. The EHRC is tasked with supporting organisations to comply with this duty, including providing practical guidance and, where necessary, taking enforcement action against those failing to implement reasonable preventive measures.

In support of these efforts, the EHRC recently hosted an Equality Exchange event for senior leaders and equality, diversity, and inclusion practitioners within Britain’s armed forces, police, and fire services. The event aimed to improve understanding of the new legal duties and how to apply the EHRC’s guidance effectively. This emphasis on leadership and practical implementation reflects the commission’s view that high-level commitment is essential in transforming entrenched workplace cultures.

Furthermore, the EHRC has advocated for the inclusion of equality and human rights considerations in policing inspection frameworks for 2025 to 2029. It has stressed the importance of evaluating forces’ compliance with the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998, particularly concerning measures to prevent sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. These inspections are designed to hold uniformed services accountable and ensure continuous progress on equality issues.

Overall, the EHRC’s new guidance and associated initiatives underline the importance of data-driven, legally informed, and culturally conscious strategies to eradicate harassment and discrimination within some of Britain’s most respected but traditionally insular institutions. It is clear that while progress has been slow and challenging, meaningful change requires transparency, robust data, effective legal frameworks, and ongoing scrutiny.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
10

Notes:
The narrative is based on a recent press release from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), dated 18 September 2025, announcing new guidance to tackle discrimination in uniformed services. This indicates high freshness. The EHRC’s guidance aligns with their 2024–2025 business plan, which includes publishing guidance on the collection and effective use of equality data in uniformed services. ([equalityhumanrights.com](https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/about-us/our-strategy/our-business-plan/business-plan-2024-2025?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score:
10

Notes:
The quotes attributed to Martyn Jones, Acting Wales Commissioner at the EHRC, are consistent with his statements in the EHRC’s press release dated 18 September 2025. No discrepancies or variations in wording were found, suggesting the quotes are accurately reported. ([wired-gov.net](https://www.wired-gov.net/wg/news.nsf/articles/Tackling%2Bdiscrimination%2Bat%2Bwork%2BEHRC%2Blaunches%2Bfirst%2Bequality%2Bdata%2Bguide%2Bfor%2Buniformed%2Bservices%2B18092025171500?open=&utm_source=openai))

Source reliability

Score:
10

Notes:
The narrative originates from The Irish News, a reputable news outlet. The EHRC’s press release is also cited, providing direct information from the official source. This combination enhances the reliability of the information presented. ([wired-gov.net](https://www.wired-gov.net/wg/news.nsf/articles/Tackling%2Bdiscrimination%2Bat%2Bwork%2BEHRC%2Blaunches%2Bfirst%2Bequality%2Bdata%2Bguide%2Bfor%2Buniformed%2Bservices%2B18092025171500?open=&utm_source=openai))

Plausability check

Score:
10

Notes:
The claims regarding the EHRC’s new guidance and its objectives are consistent with the EHRC’s strategic plan for 2025 to 2028, which includes addressing discrimination in uniformed services. ([equalityhumanrights.com](https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/media-centre/news/watchdog-publishes-three-year-plan-tackle-key-equality-and-human-rights-issues?utm_source=openai)) The narrative also references recent events, such as the suspension of officers at Charing Cross police station, which corroborates the reported issues of discrimination and harassment within uniformed services.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary:
The narrative is based on a recent and original press release from the EHRC, accurately reporting their new guidance to tackle discrimination in uniformed services. The quotes are consistent with the EHRC’s official statements, and the information aligns with the EHRC’s strategic objectives and recent events, indicating a high level of credibility.